Reclining-chair



(No Mogel.) C. Hl BUGKNAMI 2 sheets-#sheet 1.

REGLINING CHAIR'. No. 250,879. Patented Deo.18',1881.

N. Pnnsylwlrnimugmphur. washington n. C.

(NOMMOdel.) 2Sheets-Sheet 2.

` C. BUCKNAM.

REGLINING GHAIR. Y No. 250,879. 8 v Patented Deo. 18,1881.

@wwf

M PETERS. Phobmiwgmmr. wnhingten. 5.a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. BUOKNAM, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

RECLlNlNG-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,879, dated December 13, 1881.

Application tiled March 24, 1881. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES H. BUCKNAM, residing in Portland,in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reclining-Chairs; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates especiallyY to a new and ingenious improvement in that class of chairs commonly known and designated as adjustable recliningchairs;77 and the object thereof is to furnish a reclining-chair which shall be so constructed and have its several operatingI parts so arranged that the back ofthe chaircanbeeasily adjusted to standfirrnlysetat an oblique angle,varying more orless from the nearly perpendicular position common to the backs of all chairs, to suit the taste and convenience of the person using the chair; also,

a chair that shall have among its several working parts simple and effectively-operating mechanical devices :for returning the back ofthe chair to its normal upright position, whendehereinafter be shown, in skillfully attaching to the rear rail of the seat-frame and connecting the same to the frame of the chair-back aspring of any convenient description, which shall act byits recoiling power to carry the back of the cha-ir to au upright position when it is not desirable to use the chair for reclining purposes.

In order that the nature of the said invention maybe fully understood, reference is hereby made to the subjoined specication, in which it is explicitly set out, and to the annexed drawings illustrating it, in whichfirmly held together by the rear and front seatrails, C C, and the side seat-rails, D D. The back of the chair, which is denoted by E, is hinged to the tops of the rear legs, A A, at the point a.

F F represent arm-rests, which are stationary. To the under side of the arm-rests guides or slideways bb are fastened in any convenient manner. up of two side' sections, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each side section has a lip, as shown at b b in the bottom-plan view, Fig. 3, extending part way along one edge, and when the two sections are tted together the lip of one side section overlaps and matches with the lip of the other section. This method of overlappingforms a closed slideway for a catch-rod to run in, and at the same time opera-tes to lock the sections firmly together. One of the sections is provided with an elevation, d, which serves as a bearing for the spindle of a spring clutch or clamp, G. This spring-clutch is made up of a spindle, g, which is surrounded by a spiral spring. One end of the spindle is provided with a knob or handle, g. The other is tted into an angular-shaped piece, g2. When the clutches Gr are in their proper positions the knobs project outward beyond the sides of the chair, and the angles g2 t into slots m m cut in the insides of the slideways. The spiralspringson thespindles,beingcompressed between the knobs and the slideways, tend by their recoil to hold the angles g2 firmly thrust into the slots.

H H show catch-rods, made in two sections. The rear sections, fj', are attached to lugs hh, fastened to thefranle of the chair-back. From the back the sections f f extend toward the front of the chair, passing through slots These guides or slideways are made cut in the tops of arm-rest supports n n, and at the points zz are joined to the other sections, o o, which pass between and through the slideways b b. The sections 0 o are made with a series of notches or slots, pp, which are to receive the angles g2.

Rigidly attached to G-the rear rail of the seat-frame-are two blocks, i '5. One end of each of the blocks is turned round, and around the turned parts coilsKK,ot` stout spring-wire, are wound. The coils are iirmly fastened to or about the blocks, so that there shall be no slipping or turning when the spring is subjected to a severe strain. An end of the spring passes from the coil to any convenient point on the frame of the chair-back, and is there fastened.

Having thus described the manner of constructing my said invention, I will now explain its operation.

When the back of the chair is in its usual upright position, as shown in Fig. l, and the user is desirous of changing it to an oblique angle, easy for lounging or reclining purposes, by pressing on the knobs g the angles g2 will be pushed back out of the slots m m and disengaged from the notches p p of the catch-rods o 0. The catch-rods will then be free to move longitudinally through the slideways. By holding the catch firmly in the position just indicated and putting pressure upon the chairback, the back will turn on the hinges a a and be carried backward and downward, drawing the catch-rods through the slideways. As soon as the desired angle is obtained, by relaxing the pressure on the knobs g the compressed coil-sprin g on the catch-spindle will elongate, and the angle g2 will be thrust through the slots m m, where it will engage with the notches of the catch-rod. Thus the chair-back will be held firmly and securely at a reclining angle. To return the chair-back to its upright position, pressing upon the knobs will thrust the angles out of the notches and slots, as before, and the recoilin g force of the springs K K will send the back to its normal upright position. The free end of the spring K is caught to the back of the chair by a hook, 7c. This manner of fastening it is of great service in attaching and detachin g when making or repairing the chair.

In returning the back from an oblique reclining angle to an upright position it is not necessary to exert pressure upon the hack to relieve the catches from any strain caused by the springs K K.

In some devices of this kind the pressure on the locking clutch or clamp is so strong that it cannot be operated easily; but in myinvention the clutch is so constructed that the angle g2 can he pressed out of the notches and sldeways, no matter how much strain may be exerted by the springs K K.

What l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The slideways b b, iixed beneath the stationary arm-rests F, made in two sections, and otherwise constructed substantiallyin theform and manner herein. shown and described, and the clutches or clamps G G, in combination with each other and with the notched catchrods H H, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The spiral spring K, attached to the rear rail, i, of the chair-seat, and having an upwardly-extending end playing in the lug h on the chair-back, substantially as described.

3. The combination of spring K, attached to the rear chair-rail, i., and having an upwardlyextending end,with the chair-back E, provided with a guide-lug, h, and with the notched catchrod H, guides or slideway b, stationary arm F, and spring-clutch G, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. BUCKNAM.

Witnesses:

DENNIS A. MEAHER, OWEN RING. 

